Method and apparatus to shift-by-speech for semi-manual transmissions with intelligent shifting algorithm

Abstract

A shift-by-speech transmission system with intelligent shifting algorithm allows a driver or a motorcyclist to choose a desired gear by voice command. An intuitive and engaging shift-by-speech technology disclosed in the present invention, called “VoiceShift”, allows the driver or the motorcyclist to switch gears by voice commands. VoiceShift also allows the driver or the motorcyclist to skip-shift gears in non-sequential manner, thereby giving the driver a sense of freedom and excitement similar to a stick-shift manual transmission vehicle. A novel intelligent shifting algorithm of the shift-by-speech transmission system is capable of auto-correcting the driver's judgment error in skip-shifting by engaging a closest mechanically-safe gear to the driver's desired gear issued via voice command.

1. A shift-by-speech transmission system configured to select a gear indicated by a driver's voice command for a vehicle, the shift-by-speech transmission system comprising:
 a microphone configured to pick up the driver's voice command; 
 a voice recognition program configured to analyze the driver's voice command for a driver's particular gear selection, wherein the voice recognition program generates an output signal indicating the driver's particular gear selection if the driver's voice command is successfully understood; 
 a shift-by-speech transmission control system containing a manual-shifting mode control logic block operatively connected to a transmission gearbox, wherein the output signal of the voice recognition program to the shift-by-speech transmission control system enables choosing the driver's particular gear selection or a mechanically-safer gear for the transmission gearbox; 
 a transmission and/or engine protection logic operatively connected to the shift-by-speech transmission control system, wherein the transmission and engine protection logic is configured to determine whether the driver's particular gear selection causes a mechanically-detrimental condition to the shift-by-speech transmission system, to an engine, or to other parts of the vehicle; and 
 an intelligent shifting algorithm logic configured to choose the mechanically-safer gear instead of the driver's particular gear selection if the transmission and/or engine protection logic determines that the driver's particular gear selection causes the mechanically-detrimental condition. 
 
     
     
       2. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein the intelligent shifting algorithm logic is further configured to define the mechanically-safer gear as a transmission gear which is closest to the driver's particular gear selection but does not cause potential mechanical damage to the shift-by-speech transmission system, to the engine, or to the other parts of the vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 1 , further comprising an aural indicator logic block, wherein the aural indicator logic block is configured to generate a first confirmatory success aural signal if the driver's particular gear selection is successful, a second confirmatory success aural signal if the intelligent logic chooses and engages the mechanically-safer gear defined by the intelligent shifting algorithm logic, or a warning aural signal if the driver's particular gear selection is not recognized and/or no new gear is engaged. 
     
     
       4. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 3 , wherein the first confirmatory success aural signal is a first distinct sound. 
     
     
       5. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 3 , wherein the second confirmatory success aural signal is a second distinct sound. 
     
     
       6. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 3 , wherein the warning aural signal if the driver's particular gear is not recognized and/or no new gear is engaged is a third distinct sound. 
     
     
       7. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display unit indicating a current gear selection. 
     
     
       8. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 1 , further comprising a shift-by-speech on/off switch to enable or disable a manual gear selection by the driver's command. 
     
     
       9. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 1 , further comprising a selection mode to turn the intelligent shifting algorithm logic on or off for the shift-by-speech transmission system. 
     
     
       10. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 1 , further comprising a gear selection voice command-activating pedal configured to enable the microphone only when the gear selection voice command-activating pedal is depressed with a driver's foot. 
     
     
       11. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein the driver's particular gear selection is a simulated gear implemented by a continuously variable transmission (CVT). 
     
     
       12. A method to provide a manual gear selection for a semi-manual transmission system by speech, the method comprising:
 selecting a manual gear selection mode for the semi-manual transmission system; 
 activating a shift-by-speech mode by pressing a shift-by-speech on/off button and/or depressing a gear selection voice command-activating pedal 
 capturing a driver's voice command to select a particular gear by a microphone operatively connected to the semi-manual transmission system; 
 comparing the driver's voice command to a plurality of known voice command profiles in a voice recognition program for a manual voice gear selection; and 
 if the driver's voice command matches one of the plurality of known voice command profiles in the voice recognition program for the manual voice gear selection:
 checking whether the particular gear indicated by the driver's voice command will not result in a potential transmission or engine damage if engaged; 
 if the particular gear indicated by the driver's voice command will not result in the potential transmission or engine damage if engaged:
 shifting to the particular gear in the semi-manual transmission system; 
 
 if the particular gear indicated by the driver's voice command will result in the potential transmission or engine damage if engaged:
 shifting to a mechanically-safer gear which will not cause the potential transmission or engine damage but is closest to the particular gear indicated by the driver's command. 
 
 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of generating a first aural confirmation if the particular gear indicated by the driver's voice command is successfully engaged or a second aural confirmation if the mechanically-safer gear is engaged. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of generating an aural warning if the particular gear indicated by the driver's voice command is not recognized and/or no new gear is engaged. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of generating a visual sign to indicate a current gear selection. 
     
     
       16. A shift-by-speech transmission system configured to select a gear indicated by a driver's voice command for a vehicle, the shift-by-speech transmission system comprising:
 a microphone configured to pick up the driver's voice command; 
 an on/off switch configured to enable or disable a shift-by-speech manual-shifting mode; 
 a voice recognition program configured to analyze the driver's voice command for a driver's particular gear selection if the shift-by-speech manual-shifting mode is enabled, wherein the voice recognition program generates an output signal indicating the driver's particular gear selection if the driver's voice command is successfully understood; 
 a shift-by-speech transmission control system containing a manual-shifting mode control logic block operatively connected to a transmission gearbox, wherein the output signal of the voice recognition program to the shift-by-speech transmission control system enables choosing the driver's particular gear selection or a mechanically-safer gear for the transmission gearbox; 
 a transmission and/or engine protection logic operatively connected to the shift-by-speech transmission control system, wherein the transmission and/or engine protection logic is configured to determine whether the driver's particular gear selection causes a mechanically-detrimental condition to the shift-by-speech transmission system, to an engine, or to other parts of the vehicle; and 
 an intelligent shifting algorithm logic configured to choose the mechanically-safer gear instead of the driver's particular gear selection if the transmission and engine protection logic determines that the driver's particular gear selection causes the mechanically-detrimental condition. 
 
     
     
       17. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 16 , wherein the intelligent shifting algorithm logic is further configured to define the mechanically-safer gear as a transmission gear which is closest to the driver's particular gear selection but does not cause potential mechanical damage to the shift-by-speech transmission system, to the engine, or to the other parts of the vehicle. 
     
     
       18. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 16 , further comprising a semi-manual gearshift lever with a manual shift mode, and/or a paddle-shifter attached to a steering wheel unit for manual sequential shifting. 
     
     
       19. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 16 , further comprising an aural indicator logic block, wherein the aural indicator logic block is configured to generate a first confirmatory success aural signal if the driver's particular gear selection is successful, a second confirmatory success aural signal if the safer gear is chosen and engaged, or a warning aural signal if the driver's particular gear selection is unrecognized and/or no new gear is engaged. 
     
     
       20. The shift-by-speech transmission system of  claim 16 , wherein the driver's particular gear selection is a simulated gear implemented by a continuously variable transmission (CVT).